Watchman convicted for killing 25-year-old lawyer in Mumbai

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The judge will pronounce the quantum of the sentence after hearing the arguments by the prosecutor and the defence lawyer on thursda

A local court here on monday convicted a security guard sajjad pathan for the murder and molestation of pallavi purkayastha a 25-year-old lawyer who was stabbed to death at her apartment in central mumbai in august 2012.

Session’s court judge vrushali joshi found pathan guilty of murder molestation and criminal trespass. the former security guard originally from kashmir accepted the verdict silently in the court room.

The judge will pronounce the quantum of the sentence after hearing the arguments by the prosecutor and the defence lawyer on thursday.

The victim’s parents both of who are senior indian administrative service (ias) officers working with the central government in delhi have sought the death penalty. atanu purkayastha the father said only the death sentence would send out a strong message to such criminals. mother sumita also said the convict deserved the death penalty.

Pallavi who was living at a flat in a high-rise building in wadala in central mumbai with her fiancé avik sengupta had snubbed the watchman in the past for stalking her. on the night of august 9 2012 pathan (who was 22 then) realised that avik would not be returnng home.

According to the prosecution pathan’s crime was a premeditated act of perversion. he managed to get the power supply to her apartment disconnected and had accompanied an electrician to her flat. he allegedly stole the apartment keys and later at around 3am entered her apartment again.

Pathan allegedly entered pallavi’s bedroom and tried to molest her. however when the victim — who was also a national-level swimmer — resisted he pulled out a knife and attacked her. pallavi fled the apartment and tried to ring the neighbour’s door-bell. but pathan allegedly followed and dragged her back into her apartment.

When avik returned home in the morning he found his fiance’s body lying in a pool of blood. preliminary investigations led the police to suspect that the security guard had committed the crime. he was arrested on the same day hours before he was to escape to kashmir.

Two months later the police filed a 430-plus page charge-sheet accusing the security guard of the crime. about 40 witnesses were examined including avik. however last november he succumbed to an illness and died at a mumbai hospital.

Nithin?khaleejtimes.com

for more news from khaleej times follow us on facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes and on twitter at ?khaleejtime

(MENAFN) Qatar is ready to pump almost USD13bn on mega infrastructure projects in the country in the coming year with a main focus on projects related to the FIFA World Cup 2020.Moreover, the country ...

(MENAFN) A mutual summit between GCC leaders and British Theresa May confirmed to launch the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership to enhance relations in all fields.Moreover, UK will spend more than 3bn euro ...

(MENAFN - Gulf Times) The number of passenger cars in use in Qatar is expected to reach about 912,000 units by 2020, registering the highest annualised growth of 5.4% in the Gulf Co-operation Council ...